25+ Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Memories

They say that once all is said and done, all that you have from your wedding day are your photos (and your memories). But that's not the case with these special keepsakes, which help you to preserve your gown, bouquet, stationery, and more.

By: Kristen Klein

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Wedding Dress Jewelry

Wear your wedding dress every day with this subtle necklace design. Simply cut a small piece of lace from your gown, and enclose it in a pendant.

Wedding Dress Jewelry

Framed Wedding Gown

Typically, preserving your wedding gown means it's going to sit in a box in your closet for the next few decades until you pull it out and see if your daughter wants to wear it on her own wedding day. Instead, why not put it on display in your closet? You'll get a little thrill every time you see it, while still keeping it in tip-top shape in case your daughter actually does want to wear it.

Photo courtesy of Framing Center

Wedding Dress Quilt

Show off your wedding gown every day with a quilt from Mary Manson Quilts, made entirely out of your gown. You can also have a matching pillow made if there's enough fabric!

Wedding Invitation Ornament

Wedding Card Album

Wedding cards are so beautiful and tend to be filled with special messages from your loved ones. Instead of shoving them in a drawer, never to be seen again, turn them into a mini albumand revisit those messages whenever you want.

Wedding Card Collage

If you don't mind cutting up your wedding cards, you can create a truly unique piece of art to display in your home. Punch out your favorite designs and messages, and glue them onto a piece of paper to be framed.

Wedding Cake Ornament

Your wedding cake will likely be a focal point of your reception room, but photos just can't capture all of the beautiful intricacies of the design. Aberrant Ornaments can create a miniature clay replica of your confection that'll last forever!

First Cork

Ring Box

Carry your rings in a special box during your ceremony; then use that same box to hold your rings after the wedding. You'll be reminded of your vows and promises to each other every time you open the box.

Meaningful Favors

Potted plants as wedding favors are the gifts that keep on giving. You'll be reminded of your wedding day whenever you visit one of your guests and see the plant blooming! And don't forget to take home a few for yourself.

Time Capsule

During your ceremony, create a time capsule filled with some of your wedding mementos — your invitation, ceremony program, and any other paper goods you want to save — along with letters describing how each of you feel on your wedding day and your hopes and dreams for the future. Seal it and open it on your 10th anniversary!

Photo Credit: Love Me Do Photography

Custom Painting

Commission an artist to paint a one-of-a-kind piece of art to display in your home after the wedding. Consider hiring the artist for your ceremony to paint the moment when you become husband and wife, or for the reception to capture you and your guests as you dance the night away.

Personalized Newspaper

After the wedding, when your memories are still fresh, write down your wedding story — how you felt, how the day progressed, the little moments that your photographer may not have captured, the sweet and silly memories you hope you'll never forget. Print it newspaper-style for a one-of-a-kind memento you'll love to revisit.

First Dance Lyrics

Wedding Veil Picture

Use your veil to transform your favorite wedding photo into an ethereal piece of art.

Photo via Pinterest

Honeymoon Sand Jar

Don't forget to preserve those honeymoon memories as well! This idea also starts a fun tradition — save some sand from every trip you take together, starting with your honeymoon. Add it to a glass jar, and label each layer with where the sand came from and when.

Photo courtesy of House of Wentworth

Honeymoon Sand Ring

You can also wear a little piece of your honeymoon with a custom ring by Dune Jewelry.